Student is allowed to continue at prestigious all-boys school after identifying as female
- Christ’s College is working with a student who identifies as gender diverse
- The Christchurch school are reportedly changing the student’s pronoun to ‘her’
- Rainbow Youth said inclusive schools should consider gender-neutral uniforms
- A former student who identifies as gay said the school has come a long way
A student has been allowed to stay on at an elite all-boys school despite now identifying as female.
Christ’s College – one of Christchurch’s oldest and most prestigious boys schools -said it has been working alongside the student who no longer identifies as ‘male’ to stay at the school.
‘Over the past several months, we have been working with one of our students who now identifies as gender diverse,’ said Christ’s College told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Our school’s virtues – particularly respect and compassion – have guided us throughout this matter.’
Christ’s College (pictured) – one of Christchurch’s oldest and most prestigious boys schools -announced they have been working alongside the student who no longer identifies as ‘male’ to keep them at the school
It is understood that staff have been instructed to use the pronoun ‘she’ and ‘her’ when addressing the senior student, Stuff reported.
The pupil in question has been at the school since year 9 and has no plans to leave.
Rainbow Youth spokesperson Toni Duder told NewstalkZB that ‘you don’t even have to know of any gender diverse students to effectively educate your school’ about such gender issues.
‘We often get schools saying to us they don’t have any gender diverse students, and I say the chances are you do – but they’re not out because nobody’s told them it’s a safe environment.’
While the College declined to comment on the extent of the changes within the school due to privacy reasons, some alterations may involve ensuring the student is referred to by the correct pronoun (‘she’ and ‘her’)
Duder also said schools wanting to embrace gender diversity should look at potential barriers preventing students from being open about their identity, citing access to gender-neutral bathrooms and uniforms.
‘If you’re able to have gender neutral uniforms – that doesn’t change anyone’s learning abilities. It just means everyone has a standard way of dressing.’
Ex-president of Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association Jeremy Johnson previously told Stuff he identifies as gay, but stayed quiet about it because homosexuality wasn’t socially accepted at the school when he attended from 1998 to 2002.
Mr Johnson said the culture changed significantly even in the five years he had been president of the former students body, particularly in 2016 after the appointment of a new headmaster.